Looking at the Sun. A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters. England, England

In the stellar series Big Books - one of the main stars of British literature. Three novels under one cover - the best gift for all connoisseurs of quality prose. 

Looking at the Sun — Julian Barnes
A novel about how a person tries to understand their own life by observing how the world around them changes. Through the story of one family, Barnes shows how memory, love, loss, and time shape our perception of ourselves. This is quiet, philosophical prose about what it means to live and look at the world 'in full light'.

A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters — Julian Barnes
An informal 'anti-history' where each chapter is a standalone story reinterpreting well-known myths, events, and cultural narratives. Barnes demonstrates that history is not a single line but a multitude of versions, interpretations, and coincidences. The book is ironic, smart, and provocative: it makes us doubt what we consider to be the truth.

England, England — Julian Barnes
A satirical novel about how a billionaire decides to create a perfect 'copy of England' on an island - a tourist country-simulacrum where everything works better than in the original. Barnes explores the theme of national identity, the subversion of reality, and how easily culture turns into a commodity. This is sharp, smart, and very British satire.